What does the Red Sided Skink look like?

They have a typical skink appearance with a large body, that they sometimes flatten down. Their snout is pointed and their neck is thick. They have a movable bottom eyelid and this species has frills around the eardrum to protect it while it burrows in the substrate. They feel smooth to the touch and have large shape claws for climbing and digging. They are mainly brown with red running along the side of their body with the odd white scale. Adult size is approx. 200mm (8 inches) excluding the long thin tail.

Where are Red Sided Skinks from?

They can be found in parts of Eastern and Southern African, in open woodland or in human habitation.

How do you keep Red Sided Skinks?

The vivarium should be set-up to resemble open woodland. Use a soil substrate, with bark chippings over the top, along with logs, slates and hides. This species also likes to climb, provided them with branches. A temperature of 25-30C (77-86F) should be provided during the day, with a basking area of 32C (90F). A drop down to no lower then 20C (68F) is recommended during the night.

A varied diet of insects should be offered, they may even take the odd pinkie (baby mouse). They will eat Chinese Painted Quail eggs by cracking into them to eat the yolk. You should also dust the live foods with a vitamin supplement once a week for adults and more frequently for babies and juveniles. Although fresh water should always be provided, spray the vivarium once a week to stimulate rain and to keep the soil substrate damp, but not wet.

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